Belmont Abbey Cruises By Women's Basketball 71-48

BELMONT, NC - Belmont Abbey junior forward Shayla Jackson led all scorers with 19 points as the Crusaders women's basketball team earned its fourth-straight win with a 71-48 victory over the visiting Pfeiffer Falcons this evening. The Abbey, winnners of 11 of its last 13, improves to 15-8 overall and 13-5 in Conference Carolinas, while the Lady Falcons drop to 11-12 overall and 11-7 in Conference Carolinas.

Jackson led all scorers with 19 points on seven of 11 shooting from the field with four rebounds, four steals and a game-high three assists. Asha Hardaway added 15 points on three of five shooting from the floor and a nine for ten effort from the free throw line. Paula Regalado chipped in with 12 points and a pair of steals. The Abbey shot 41 percent from the floor as 11 of its 19 field goals were assisted.

Pfeiffer shot 31 percent from the field as Devona Knight led the Lady Falcons with 11 points and four rebounds.

Pfeiffer scored the first six points of the game but the Abbey erased it by with a 14-0 run to claim a lead it would never lose. Jackson gave the Abbey its first lead with a short jumper to push it ahead 14-12. Her basket ignited a 17-0 Abbey run that built the lead to 16 points, the highest of the half, at 28-12 with 5:38 left. The advantage never dipped below 11 points as the Abbey took a 37-24 lead into the break.

In the second half the lead remained in double digits for the early part of the half until a 7-2 Pfeiffer run trimmed the lead to nine at 51-42 with 8:32 showing. The Abbey countered with a 12-0 jaunt that moved the cushion to 21 points at 65-44 with 3:32 left, and it took its biggest lead of the game at 70-46 with 1:55 remaning and won by 23, 71-48.

Pfeiffer returns home on Monday night for a matchup with the Trojans from Mount Olive. The action will begin inside the Merner Gymnasium at 5:30 p.m.